PHH change - save the coolant? (1 Viewer)

[Docmallory]

I am now prepared to do the PHH change this weekend. However, my coolant was just flushed out about 3 months ago and I'd like to see if I can save as much of it as possible.

With the local dealer charging $12.50 a gallon for Toyota Red I think I can wait to flush it again next year.

I figured I'd drain the radiator into a clean bucket. Any other tips on preventing loss of coolant when removing the PHH?

 

[Rich]

Too much trouble. Just chalk up the extra $25 as an insurance payment that you don't blow the PHH on the side of the road if you wait another couple of years.

If you are totally bent on reusing the coolant, it is possible to place a drain hose on the end of the radiator draincock. You need to be sure to not totally remove the radiator drain plug. It will drain through the tube very very slowly. You will need more patience than I have.

 

[landtoy80]

Good luck. I had a heck of a time just getting the coolant into a pan. It makes a mess and runs down dirty under carrage parts making it hard to keep clean.
Then there is no way to get the coolant out of the block without it making a mess.

JUST SPEND YOUR $$$$$$$$$$ Its an 80. 80=SPENDING LOTS OF $$$$$

THis is one thing I HATE about the 80 there is no coolant drain hose on the drain for the rad like the HiLux's.

 

[Beowulf]

Doc,

As you were told above, it's messy; whether you try to recapture or not. If you are wanting to attempt this then clean the front area around the drain before you start. Get about 4' of 5/8" heater hose. Leave the radiator cap on, remove the front skid plate, position a 5gal bucket under the drain, remove the petc0ck, and push the hose onto the rad drain, then loosen the rad cap.

When putting the recovered coolant back in the radiator it helps to use a funnel and a coffee filter (or similar.) This will strain out the big chunks.

This doesn't address the block but I think you could use the same set up.

-B-

 

[landtank]

I haven't tried this but it should work. You actually don't have to totally remove the petcock to drain the fluid. Once the petcock is loosened the fluid drains through a small hose that is located on the underside of the nipple that the petcock screws into. You can see this while looking from under the truck straight up through the crossmember at the petcock. Slide a hose up through the frame so that it rests on the under side of that nipple and extends down to the bucket. I had to drain down my system last week to change out a gasket and 80% of the coolant drained out through that hole through the frame into the buck without hitting anything along the way. I would have gotten a hose if I was aware of this prior to draining the system. Without the hose it wasn't that messy and with it it should be quite easy to capture it.

 

[whodat]

can't he remove the PHH without affecting the rad coolant? I would think the block coolant is the issue here...but I haven't done my PHH yet, so IDKWITA(i don't know what i'm talking about)

 

[tucker74]

Having just done this last weekend - I don't think it's going to be possible to save the coolant man. When you loosen the petcock at the bottom of the radiator the fluid will run all over the crossmember and drain down in a half dozen places (use a large dia. bucket). If you really clean everything you might be able to use this coolant...but it's going to be a real PITA. Then going to the drain plug in the block - when you pull it it's going to arc out to the frame rail...then gradually fall back and run down the block/oil pan - lots of cleaning here as well I'd just buy a couple of gallons of new coolant - you'll probably spend half as much on simple green to save it anyway.

My $.02

Good luck!

Tucker

 

[Docmallory]

Thanks guys.

I had already bought a couple of gallons of new coolant before I asked the question, as I figured I already knew the answer.

In that case, would it make sense to NOT drain the radiator when doing the PHH, like Whodat suggested?